Positive lubricating device for clutch throw-out bearings



Nov. 22, 1932. LOEFFLER 1,888,231

POSITIVE LUBRICATING DEVICE FOR CLUTCH THROW-OUT BEARINGS F iled Sept. 12. 1929 PatentedNomZZ, 1932 p A i p e UNITED STATES ammo nonrrnnn, or rmmrinnn, NEW assrenba roi rn'rn 'rinn'rmnnnf MOTOR COMPANY, or NEW YORK, N. Y.,'A coaronn'rron ornnrnwmj 1 rosrrrvn LUBRICA'I'ING DEVICE FOIt: aaeibaaaa wwa stigma; a

Application filed September12i1929; "Serial llo. i i i The present invention relates to lubricat ated above, will be apparent asltlie 6a: ing systems and embodies, more specifically, tion is described in greaterdetfaili in connec- V 7 an improved device for lubricating clutch tionf; with the accompanying" drawing, throw out bearings, wherein such bearings wherein: a "f i r f receive lubricant through a positive and F igure- *1 is"a viewlin sectiom takenb111 effective periodic supply. a 7 line 1 1 of Figure 2, andf l'ookiiigr in the One objectionably weak feature of clutch direction ofythe' arrowg'suchfigur'esh wing constructions now available is that of the inthe "details of construction ,embodiedrin the suflicient lubrication of the clutch throw out present invention, I

0 bearings. These bearings receive consider-. "FigurefQ is aview insection,*tiikeri'dn lirie able wear and, in many instances, areused to 2+2 or-rigure' fand'l-ooking"inithedircsuch a great extent that the casual supply tion' of the arrows." a of lubricant thereto is entirely inadequate Referring to the abovedrawing,'wdesigif to effect proper lubrication of the parts. natesav transrnissionshaft journaled inan The present invention seeks to provide a deelementfb,constitutin one'of 'tlierotatijrg 65 .vice for positively lubricating such elements elements of the c'lri tc ,grueeremma bf is and contemplates the provision of a lubri- 'forrnedwith a; sleeve 6. upon whiclifajsleeve cating device which is operated directly in c'is slidably mounted; sleveisformed accordance with the relative rotation between with anan'nular' groove "0 with 5 which the the elements of the bearing. throwoutyoke'engages; 7

An object of the invention, therefore, is An annularhousing d is ca'rriedmponthe' to provide a lubricating device for'clutch sleeve' c'by' means of a'bea'ring d, such housthrow out bearings which positively and ing carryingasecond element 12 of the clutch. effectively lubricates the same. Y The bearing (1 engages against'a shoulder,

A further object of the invention is to 0 and is secured thereto by means of a col-""Z provide a lubricating device of the above lard andanut (1 The nutma-y be provided character in which a source of lubricant with an oilseal d and-a second oil seal d? is under pressure is connected with the clutch provided between the housing and sleeve 0 throw out bearing and the pressure thereof at the other end of the bearing. I g a periodically subjected to the bearing. -Agroove and recess a are formed'in the A further object of the invention is to sleeve 0 and permit lubricant from thejbear provide a lubricating device of the character ing to pass to the engagin surfaces between last described in which the lubricant under the sleeve cand sleeve 6 Upon collar d pressure is controlled and the pressure therea cam d is formed, the purpose of this cam accordance with the relative rotation of the The housing 03 is formed with an extension bearing parts. 7 e, at the extremity of whicha fitting e. is

In the attainment of the above objects, the received. This fitting is preferably carried source of lubricant communicates with a port on one end of a flexible hose section which in a plunger, such plunger normally being communicates with a source of lubricant and closed by the walls of a chamber in which thus supplies the lubricant to a chamber 6 the plunger moves, the plunger being elevated within the extension 6. A plungere is carto expose the port and permit the lubricant ried within the housing (Z and is formedvwith to escape therefrom into the bearing when a an enlarged heade. which rides in the chamcorresponding cam rides ofi'of the top of the ber 6 Retr'actile spring 6 normally urges plunger. In this manner, lubricant is perithe plungeroutwardly against'the cam 03" odically supplied to the bearing in proporas clearly shown in Figure-1. I tion to the speed of rotation of the rotating The plungere is provided with an axial element. bore 6 communicating with a radial bore e,

of subjected to the bearing periodically in being described more fully hereinafter. f

Further objects, not specifically enumer the ports formed by the radial borenormally being closed by the housing 03. When the plunger rides off of the cam d, the ports are exposed and lubricant from the chamber e is forced into the bearing chamber and etfectively lubricates the bearing d. Excess lubricant passes out aperture 7 into a chamber f in an extension f. A suitable flexible conduit is connected to the extension f by means of a fitting f, in this matter preserving a tight joint and bearing which i effectively lubricated at all times.

While the invention has been described with specific reference to the construction shown in the accompanying drawing, it is not to be limited, save'as" defined in the appended claim.

What I claim is z i i A lubricating device comprising relatively rotatable elements, a bearing therebetween, a source of lubricant under pressure, a chamber carried by one ofthe elements, the source of lubricantcommunicating with the chamber, a plunger in the chamber movable radially with respect to the axis of the bearing, an axial passage and a radial portin the plungerforming a communication between the source of lubricant and the chamber and bearing, said port being adapted to be closed by the walls of the chamber, a coiled cylindrical spring coaxial with the plunger and source of lubricant whereby uninterrupted flowof the lubricant is afforded, and aradial cam on the other element engaging the plunger to close the portjtherein intermittently. This specification signed this 6th day of Sept. A. n. 1929.

. BRUNO LOEFFLER. 

